About Drexel University
About Drexel University
History
Founded in 1891 by Philadelphia financier and philanthropist Anthony J. Drexel, The Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry became Drexel University in 1970. Today, Drexel is Philadelphia’s technological university. It continues to move up the rankings as one of the best national doctoral universities.
Campus
Drexel’s 74-acre campus is located within walking distance of Center City Philadelphia. The campus includes 76 academic buildings, ten residence halls and four outdoor recreation fields. Thirteen fraternity and sorority houses, as well as other off-campus housing, are located adjacent to campus in the historic Powelton Village section of University City. An 18-acre outdoor athletic complex, with two lighted artificial turf fields, nine tennis courts and a softball field, is located just west of Powelton Village. On July 1, 2002, Drexel formally acquired the former MCP Hahnemann University, which now includes the Drexel University College of Medicine, College of Nursing and Health Professions and School of Public Health. In 2006, Drexel became the first major research university to open a new law school in 25 years. The Earle Mack School of Law at Drexel University is now one of only two law schools to follow a cooperative model.
Students
More than 10,800 full-time undergraduates roam Drexel’s University City campus. The school’s student body in its entirety is comprised of more than 22,400 total students from 50 states and 151 different countries.
Faculty
The school also has a highly qualified faculty, and with a 10:1 student to faculty instructional ratio students ensured a quality education. Approximately 80 percent of Drexel’s full-time faculty members hold a Ph.D. or the highest degree granted in their field of study. Many of the faculty members of Drexel’s engineering school are registered professional engineers. Faculty members are engaged in cutting-edge research in subjects ranging from biomedical technology to business methods and educational outreach. These innovators also take the time to teach undergraduate level courses and serve as advisors.
Technology
A leader in curricular and technological innovation, Drexel became the first university to require all students to have microcomputers in 1983. In 2000, Drexel became the first major university to operate a fully wireless campus. In 2002, the University launched Drexel One Mobile, the first wireless Web portal service for students. Since then Drexel has regularly been recognized as a paragon of technological innovation within the context of higher education.
Academic Programs
The University offers 96 bachelor’s programs, 88 master’s programs, 35 doctoral programs, a doctor of medicine program, a juris doctorate and 45 graduate-level certificate programs. Drexel’s colleges and schools include: the College of Arts and Sciences; Bennett S. LeBow College of Business; Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design; College of Engineering; College of Information Science and Technology (The iSchool); Earle Mack School of Law; College of Medicine; College of Nursing and Health Professions; Pennoni Honors College; Richard C. Goodwin School of Technology and Professional Studies; Richard C. Goodwin School of Education; the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems; and the School of Public Health. In 2008, Drexel launched a new Center for Graduate Studies in Sacramento, California.
Drexel Co-Op
One of the trademarks of a Drexel education, since its establishment in 1919, has been the school’s co-operative education program. This unique educational opportunity gives students a chance to gain up to 18 months of real-world, professional work experience to complement their diploma. The only mandatory co-operative education program in Pennsylvania and one of three in the United States, Drexel’s 90-year-old experiential learning program is among the nation’s oldest and largest. More than 3,900 Drexel students are placed with 1,337 employer organizations in the business, government, health care industry and education sectors in 30 states and 24 international locations to fulfill their co-op requirements. Drexel’s co-op program was ranked among the nation’s top 10 experiential-learning programs by U.S. News & World Report.
Student Life
More than 300 student clubs, societies, and organizations bring like-minded people together for social, professional or service activities. Our thriving fraternities and sororities with more than 1,000 students have active schedules, raise more than $100,000 each year for charities and live together in chapter houses located in Powelton Village. Students can also participate in one of the 33 organized club sports which allows them to compete against teams from area universities. Those looking for less intense competition have a host of intramural sports to choose from. In February 2010, Drexel opened its new state-of-the-art Recreation Center to serve the health, fitness and recreational interests of students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the local community. In addition to traditional fitness equipment such as 120 cardiovascular machines and more than 300 pieces of strength conditioning equipment, the Recreation Center offers fitness classes in yoga and spinning, personal training sessions, indoor rock climbing, squash, fitness and nutrition assessments, aquatic workout and SCUBA certification to name a few. Drexel is dedicated to providing students with a co-curricular experience that will not only make their time at Drexel memorable, but will provide them with experiences that will advance them professionally and give them a competitive advantage upon graduation.
Philadelphia
The city of Philadelphia offers Drexel students plenty of places to learn, play, and experience the arts. Philadelphia encompasses Fairmount Park, the largest urban park system in the country; is home to hundreds of neighborhoods, each with its own distinct personality and attractions. There is something for everyone in “The City of Brotherly Love” from the zoo, to the art museum, majestic boathouse row to the city’s passionate sports culture. Drexel students can take advantage of Philadelphia’s many attractions through region-specific courses (often including field trips), a comprehensive transportation network, and Drexel’s campuses, which are all close to the heart of the city. If you do choose to live on campus, you’ll have even more to look forward to with residence hall-sponsored excursions and the daily activities that take you into Philadelphia’s neighborhoods and communities.
Moving Ahead
Drexel is building on perhaps the most successful 15 years of its history. Now offering comprehensive and outstanding undergraduate, graduate and professional programs on campus and online, Drexel continues to rise in the ranks of the top 100 national research universities and has also been named one of the top five most innovative schools by U.S. News & World Report (2010). The University is also ranked one of the “Top 45 Best Buys,” for an undergraduate education by The Fiske Guide to Colleges and one of the top 24 best values among private universities. Enrollment, applications, research expenditures and alumni engagement are at all-time highs, and President John A. Fry is helping to lay a foundation for even greater success in the future.
Alumni
After modest beginnings in 1891, today’s Drexel University boasts more than 160,000 alumni worldwide and is known internationally as one of America’s best technical universities. Some of Drexel’s best-known alumni include: NASA astronaut Capt. Christopher Ferguson (‘84), former NASA astronaut Dr. James Bagain (‘73); television producer Chuck Barris (‘53), creator of “The Newlywed Game” and “The Gong Show;” Robert J. Hall (‘67) former publisher of the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News; Hon. Sandra Schultz Newman (‘59) Justice of Pennsylvania Supreme Court; Malik Rose (‘96) forward for NBA’s New York Knicks; N. Joseph Woodland (‘47) inventor of the Universal Product Code (UPC) also known as the “bar code” and ESPN sportscaster Chris McKendry (‘90).
Drexel and Beyond…
In 2009, 2,745 students earned bachelor’s degrees. At the time of graduation, 66 percent had found gainful employment and 81 percent of them obtained employment in their field of study. Another 16.5 percent of Drexel graduates were pursuing graduate or professional school.
Several major publications have recognized Drexel as a paragon of technological, scientific and business education.
C/O magazine presented Drexel with 2006 CIO 100 award for being among the nation’s top 100 organizations that have distinguished themselves by creating business value through the effective and innovative use of information technology.
LeBow College of Business’s undergraduate business program is 58th in Business Week’s inaugural rankings of the country’s best undergraduate business schools. The College ranks 14th in median salary of graduates, 24th in enrollment, 27th in academic quality, 48th in average SAT score and 15th in cost.
The Princeton Review ranked Drexel among America’s “Top 25 Most Connected Campuses” in 2006.
The Intel Corporation ranked Drexel No. 22 out of 100 in the country on its “Most Unwired College Campuses” survey.
In March 2006, the Financial Times ranked the LeBow College of Business’s MBA in pharmaceutical management program as one of the top 25 distance learning programs.
Entrepreneur Magazine ranked the LeBow College of Business entrepreneurial program among the nation’s top 25 in entrepreneurial emphasis.
About Drexel Athletics
The DAC Sports Medicine Center
The Sports Medicine Department of Drexel University Department of Athletics provides high quality medical care to all student-athletes participating in Drexel Intercollegiate Athletics. Head Athletic Trainer Michael Westerfer is in his fifth full season overseeing Drexel’s training staff. Westerfer is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association and is a Pennsylvania Athletic Training Licensure. Drexel’s Sports Medicine Center at the Daskalakis Athletic Center is staffed by an experienced sports medicine team that provides the student-athletes with a vast amount of medical services, ranging from injury prevention and treatment of athletic injuries to post-surgical rehabilitation. The athletic training staff consists of four full-time certified athletic trainers and two graduate assistants athletic trainers. In addition to the athletic trainers, the sports medicine team consists of two team physicians, an orthopedic surgeon and a primary care physician, and a physical therapist in order to ensure that the student-athletes have the best medical care possible. The team physicians serve in a daily consultant role and are available on-campus to evaluate and treat student athletes in a private examination office in the DAC athletic training room on a weekly basis. The department’s physical therapist facilitates the student-athletes’ rehabilitation from major injuries and is available on-campus to evaluate and treat student athletes in the DAC Sports Medicine Center. This facility includes dedicated treatment, taping, and hydrotherapy, rehabilitation, office space and doctor’s examination room areas equipped with state of the art modalities and equipment.
The Walter Spiro Varsity Weight Room
The Walter Spiro Varsity Weight Room, which opened in March 1997, serves as the strength-training epicenter for all Drexel University student-athletes. Director of Strength and Conditioning Michael Rankin oversees a staff of certified strength and conditioning coaches who manage the physical development of all 16 varsity teams. Rankin who holds degrees in kinesiology and education, is in his seventh season at Drexel. He is recognized as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. In 2007 Rankin was selected as one of two finalists for the NSCA Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year Award. The Strength and Conditioning Program at Drexel University is dedicated to pursuing excellence. A variety of techniques are incorporated and designed to help our student-athletes improve speed, agility, power, endurance and flexibility. This is achieved through the implementation of current and sound research in the field of strength and conditioning. The program offers student-athletes an environment in which to excel both as individuals and team members. Recent upgrades to the weight room provide student-athletes with a variety of strength training machines and free-weight equipment. The 2,040 square-foot facility also features three lifting platforms for performing explosive Olympic-style lifts and more than 25 work stations for performance training. This environment is designed to instill leadership, work ethic, discipline, dedication, and determination which will carry over on the field of play.
The ACHIEVE Center
The ACHIEVE Center, which stands for Athletes and Coaches Having an Impact on Education, Volunteerism and Employment, is utilized exclusively by student-athletes for academic coaching, study groups, study skills and NCAA CHAMPS Life Skills seminars, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and career management workshops. The ACHIEVE Center is one of the premier academic study, advising and assistance programs of its kind. Developed by Dr. Rebecca Weidensaul in 1997, the Center is in place to help student-athletes manage the rigors of their simultaneous roles as students and athletes. Weidensaul, who has been nationally recognized for her visionary work, staffs the ACHIEVE Center with dedicated advisors and mentors who are committed to helping student-athletes achieve their full academic potential.
• To facilitate a high retention rate
• To provide quality academic and support services to all student-athletes
• To work effectively in developing partnerships with professional staff and faculty
• To serve as liaisons with the academic community and advocates for student-athletes
• To promote Drexel’s athletic reputation and public image through involvement within the local community
• To prepare student-athletes to be adaptable in all aspects of their lives through the delivery of “Life Skills Education”
• To achieve continued academic excellence in the conference
• To assist coaches with the recruitment of student-athletes
• To provide experiential learning opportunities for graduate students
Renovations to the ACHIEVE Center were completed in the summer of 2005, allowing the Center to serve more student-athletes and provide a variety of opportunities for academic enhancement. Since its opening, the ACHIEVE Center has been a hub of academic activity at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. The Center is open more than 60 hours each week including evenings and weekends. Student-athletes refer to the center as “The ACHIEVE” and have made it a place where they like to study, utilize computers and interact with the staff about academic questions and concerns. The renovation has made it possible for more private advising and tutoring to take place while maintaining the general use area for computers and study halls. The ACHIEVE Center will continue to be used as a gathering and instructional space for workshops and meetings to promote and encourage life skills, leadership, personal development, career readiness and community outreach. The quality of Drexel’s academic services program is punctuated by this renovation and further evidence that at Drexel, the “student” in student-athlete really does come first.
